Cheverus swim titles highlight championship week

The basketball tournament got the lion’s share of attention last week (please see stories), but there was a ton of excitement in other sports as championships were bestowed in skiing, swimming and track. The boys’ hockey playoffs are underway as well.

Here’s a glimpse:

Swimming

Cheverus has enjoyed its share of boys’ swimming glory over the years, including last winter, when the Stags won the Class A title, but that team got some company last week at the state meet when the girls won for the first time.

The boys tallied 368 points to edge perennial powerhouse Bangor by 10. The meet was in doubt until the final event, the 400 freestyle relay, but Cheverus’s Jacob Griffin, Kevin Kane, John Devine and Michael O’Donovan posted a time of 3 minutes, 18.30 seconds to hold off runner-up Bangor.

The Stags also won the 200 free relay, as Griffin, Walker Church, Tim Jerome and O’Donovan finished in 1:32.90.

Cheverus had several runners-up as well, including its 200 medley relay team (Thomas Nappo, Jerome, Kane and Devine, 1:43.16), O’Donovan in the 200 free (1:45.44) and the 500 free (4:45.65) and Nicholas Jensen in diving (324.15 points).

Also scoring in the championship finals were Kane (third in the 200 individual medley, 1:59.74, and third in the 100 butterfly, 54.72 seconds), Devine (third in the 50 free, 22.89, and fifth in the breaststroke, 1:03.43), Tony Penk (fifth in the 200 free, 1:52.78, and sixth in the 500 free, 5:14.34) and Griffin (sixth in the 100 free, 50.79, and seventh in the IM, 2:08.26).

Deering placed seventh with 124 points. The Rams were sparked by standout Eric Delmonte, who won the IM (1:54.58) and the breaststroke (setting a new state record with a time of 57.61 seconds) and was named performer of the meet.

The Bulldogs were led by Eric Worden, who was sixth in the fly (57.37). The Bulldogs came in sixth in the 200 free relay (Fedor Drown, Tyler Simpson, Chris Tomascak and Worden, 1:35.98) and eighth in the 400 free relay (Drown, Simpson, Tomascak and Worden, 3:40.12).

In the girls’ competition, Cheverus’ margin of victory was even more narrow, as its 294 points was only six better than Brunswick. Deering (227) came in fourth, while Portland (30) placed 16th.

Cheverus got a runner-up performance from Longstaff in the 100 free (56.51). Longstaff was also fourth in the 50 free (25.37).

Also scoring in the championship finals were Nappo (fifth in the 50 free, 25.57), Jess Soucy (fourth in the 500 free, 5:38.27, and sixth in the 200 free, 2:05.84), Train (seventh in the 50 free, 26.60, and eighth in the 100 free, 59.21) and Cholish (eighth in the IM, 2:32.17).

The Rams were paced by Emma Pontius, who was third in the IM (2:15.58) and third in the fly (58.76), and Wyeth Spike, who placed third in the 500 free (5:32.89) and fifth in the backstroke (1:03.00). Sofie deOliveira was fourth in the 100 free (57.43) and seventh in the 200 free (2:05.85). Kate Pontius placed sixth in the 50 free (26.43) and sixth in the 100 free (58.37). Mary Cala was seventh in the fly (1:07.58) and the IM (2:30.71).

Flyers standout Colby Harvey won the fly in a new meet record time of 54.97 seconds. She also took the backstroke in 58.64 seconds and anchored a 400 free relay champion (which also included Amelia Deady, Ellen Silk and Kiera MacWhinnie, 3:46.79).

Deady was fourth in both the 100 free (54.71) and the 200 free (1:59.97). Silk finished fourth in the fly (58.06) and fifth in the 200 free (2:01.31).

Waynflete was runner-up to MDI in the 200 free (Deady, Silk, MacWhinnie and Harvey, 1:42.70).

McAuley’s effort was paced by Ana Neff-Jendrasko, who won the IM in 2:11.72 and was second to Harvey in the backstroke (1:00.47).

The Waynflete boys were 11th with 80 points (Greely won a fifth straight title with 289). The Flyers were led by Booway Bikales, who finished seventh in the 500 free (5:22.90).

Track

Indoor track’s state meets didn’t produce a local team champion, but there were still ample highlights.

The Cheverus boys tallied 62 points at the Class A championships and finished second to Scarborough (91.33). Deering (19) tied Thornton Academy for eighth place, while Portland (4) tied Messalonskee for 20th.

The Stags were led by event winners Isaac Yeboah in the 55 hurdles (7.91 seconds) and Jake Dixon in the 200 (23.08)

Runners-up included Yeboah in the 200 (23.31), Dixon in the 400 (50.45), Jacob Schott in the high jump (6 feet) and Nick White in the shot put (49-9.5).

Also scoring were Elijah Yeboah (fourth in the 55 hurdles, 8.23), Gerald Wagner (fifth in the 400 , 53.91) and the 800 relay team (Wagner, Dixon, Schott and Isaac Yeboah, 1:37.51).

The Rams were led by Yahye Hussein, who was fourth in the two-mile (10:09.35), and Richardo Delgado, who came in fourth in the high jump (6-0), fifth in the long jump (19-7.75) and finished seventh in the 55 hurdles (8.35). Iid Sheikh-Yusuf placed fifth in the two-mile (10:09.42). Paolo DeMarco was sixth in the 55 hurdles (8.34).

Willard added a third-place finish in the 200 (27.28), while Mount was seventh in the 55 hurdles (9.58) and Opielowski came in seventh in the long jump (15-9).

“We enjoyed a lot of success and achievement,” said Cheverus coach Steve Virgilio. It was the first time in school history that the boys and girls both finished in the runner up position in the same meet, a combined best program finish ever. In fact, it was the highest finish the girls have ever attained in program history.”

The Rams were led by Edie Pallozzi, who was runner-up in the mile (5:15.95). Alexis Elowitch finished third in the shot put (34-00.25). Rashad Zagon tied for third in the high jump (5-0) and placed fourth in the 55 hurdles (9.3). Katie Farrell came in sixth in the 400 (1:04.30). Lili Kien was sixth in the high jump (5-0).

McAuley took part in the Class B girls’ meet and tied Winslow for 27th place with 1 point (Waterville won with 90). The Lions’ point came from Elsa Curran, who was seventh in the shot put (31-10.75).

Skiing

The Nordic skiing state championships were held last week, with the Alpine finals on tap for later this week.

In Class A, both Portland teams came in fourth, as Falmouth swept the titles. Deering’s girls were sixth.

The Bulldogs boys were led by Ben Allen (second in the classical, 17 minutes, 40.5 seconds, and third in the freestyle, 14:42.1). Brad Ravenelle placed 14th in the freestyle (16:08.4) and 15th in the classical (19:51.2). Jeremy Ravenelle was 17th in the classical (19:58.0) and 22nd in the freestyle (16:33.9). Patrick Sheils finished 25th in the classical (20:24.8) and 31st in the freestyle (17:22.2).

Cheverus and Deering’s boys didn’t score as a team. Peter Dube of the Stags did have the 28th-best time in the freestyle (17:08.6) and was 32nd in the classical (20:45.0).

Portland’s girls were paced by Lizzie Landry and Laura Frank. Landry won the classical race in 21:02.8 and finished third in the freestyle (18:22.8). Frank was runner-up in the freestyle (18:21.5) and fifth in the classical (22:07.08). Bea Hesselbart finished 20th in the freestyle (20:48.3) and 22nd in the classical (24:42.7).

The Rams were led by Ewa Varney, 13th in the freestyle (19:54.8) and 30th in the classical (26:07.1). Leinani Farnsworth was 14th in the classical (23:50.8) and 33rd in the freestyle (22:37.6). Phoebe Bell came in 35th in the freestyle (23:09.3) and 35th in the classical (26:28.1). Violet Sulka-Hewes placed 39th in the classical (27:44.5) and 40th in the freestyle (23:48.6).

Cheverus didn’t score, but Natalia Mavor had the 27th-best freestyle time (21:35.2) and 38th-best time in the classical (26:54.7).

In Class C, Waynflete was eighth in the girls’ competition and ninth on the boys’ side. Merriconeag swept the titles.

Individually for the Flyers girls, Marijke Rowse was 13th in the skate (17:53.60). Gail Johnson placed 19th in the skate (19:31.0) and 27th in the classical (21:44.2). Phoebe Colvin-Oehmig was 25th in the classic (21:37.10). Ellie Chidsey finished 24th in the skate (20:06.30) and 39th in the classic (24:00.80). Gemma Laurence was 26th in the skate (20:17.4). Gabrielle Nuki finished 35th in the classic (23:48.1).

On the boys’ side, Aidan Olney finished 11th in the skate (15:04.4) and 22nd in the classical (18:03.70). Nick Boulos was 39th in the skate (17:05.8) and 49th in the classic (20:28). Julien Ireland placed 46th in the classic (20:16.6) and 46th in the skate (17:45.6). Jacob Hagler was 56th in the skate (21:00.2). Ellis Heminway finished 59th in the classic (22:43.2).

Hockey

The boys’ hockey playoffs began Tuesday with the Western Class A quarterfinals.

Cheverus wound up fifth in the region with a 9-8-1 record after closing with a 5-4 overtime home win over Biddeford and a 5-4 overtime loss to Thornton Academy. Against the Tigers, James Hannigan capped his hat trick with an overtime goal. In the win over the Golden Trojans, Hannigan scored twice. The Stags went to No. 4 Noble/Wells (14-4) for their first playoff test. The teams didn’t play in the regular season.

If Cheverus was victorious, it would go to Lewiston for the semifinals Saturday to play top-ranked Falmouth (14-5), the defending state champion. The Stags beat the host Yachtsmen, 1-0, on Jan. 4.

Portland/Deering wound up seventh with a 6-11-1 mark after a 6-2 home loss to Biddeford and a 6-1 setback at Noble/Wells. Portland/Deering went to No. 2 Scarborough (12-5-1) for the quarterfinals. The Red Storm won at Portland/Deering, 11-0, Feb. 1.

The Western A Final is Tuesday of next week in Lewiston. The Class A Final is Saturday, March 8, at 6 p.m., in Lewiston.